For much of the 20th century, surgeons and patients relied almost exclusively on donated blood through a process known as “allogeneic” transfusion and still do so today. Though millions of lives are saved because of volunteer donors, there are potential complications with these transfusions.

• Infectious diseases, such as HIV, West Nile Virus, and Hepatitis can be contracted.
• Bacterial infection and Sepsis can develop.
• Risk of allergic reactions and incompatibility, such as Anaphylaxis and TA-GvHD.
• Shortages, particularly with rare blood types or antibody types, can postpone surgical procedures.
• Religious beliefs can prohibit patients from receiving donor blood, thus rendering them ineligible for many surgical procedures.

The Blood-Safe Alternative
There is an alternative to donated blood. Autologous transfusions, or autotransfusions (AT) use only the patient's blood. By far the safest option, autotransfusion has been available for nearly 30 years. It removes the risk of infectious disease and ensures that the blood type is a perfect match. The risk of allergic reactions is drastically reduced. And in addition to the direct personal benefits of AT, blood that's not used can save the lives of other people.

Learn more about Impulse AT, the blood-safe alternative.

Learn more about blood transfusions